Malala Yousufzai, is moved to a helicopter to be taken to Peshawar for treatment in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. A Taliban gunman walked up to a bus taking children home from school in Pakistan’s volatile Swat Valley Tuesday and shot and wounded a 14-year-old activist known for championing the education of girls and publicizing atrocities committed by the Taliban, officials said. (Sherin Zada/AP)

Several suspects were arrested Friday in the Taliban shooting of a defenseless 14-year-old Pakistani girl over her advocacy of education for women, authorities said.

Few details were available from police about the suspects or their roles in the attack that disgusted people around the globe.

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But a Taliban spokesman acknowledged that the shooting of Malala Yousufzai was plotted like a mob hit for weeks before a would-be killer pumped a bullet in her head.

A team of shooters spent two months studying the daily route taken to school by the teenager before shooting and wounding her Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Sirajuddin Ahmad said.

Two hit squad members were experienced in delivering gunshots to the head, he said — adding that the teen was targeted for her "Western thinking" about education.

Malala — listed in satisfactory condition Friday — was blasted inside her school bus on her way home from class.

International leaders quickly praised the activist teen's courage in pressing for her cause.

Students pray for the speedy recovery of schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on Tuesday by the Taliban for speaking out against the militants and promoting education for girls, at a school in Peshawar October 12, 2012. (FAYAZ AZIZ/REUTERS)

The girl remained unconscious and on a ventilator at a Pakistan military hospital as doctors pondered when she might begin breathing on her own.

"Her blood pressure is normal," said Maj. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa. "Heartbeat is normal, and thanks to God, her condition is satisfactory."

Malala was shot in her head, with the bullet deflecting down her neck and toward her spine, Bajwa said.

Ahmad said the decision to shoot the helpless teen was finalized after she ignored three warnings to stop promoting education for girls.

The last warning was delivered one week before the murder attempt.

While Malala remained in a Rawalpindi hospital, her school, which is owned and operated by her father, reopened to students and faculty on Friday.

But the chilling attack had its intended effect as many students stayed home — despite the presence of police around the building.

"We have decided to open the school after two days to overcome the fear among our students that gripped them due to the attack," said teacher Zafar Ali Khan.

"The number of students is low today," he continued. "We have not resumed regular teaching activity, but held an assembly to pray for Malala."